Help Support the Families of the Drowning Victims

Please note:  Donated funds will be administered by the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.
100% of the donated funds will be disbursed equally to both families of the deceased.

On Monday, June 11, ten year old Arman was playing in a field adjoining his house. The ball he was playing with rolled toward a nearby drainage canal. Unfortunately, a heavy downpour transformed the usually calm drain canal into a raging river. Sadly, Arman did not realize the speed and power of the turbulent, stormy waters and he got carried into the canal. His father, Rashidullah, rushed to the scene to save his son. The water was too strong and fast for anyone, and the concrete sides of the canal made the situation more difficult, because they were too slippery to hang onto. Rashidullah got swept into the raging currents along with his son. A friend and neighbor, Zakaria, saw the two as they were being carried toward a tunnel running under a bridge several blocks away. He jumped into his vehicle and drove several blocks to get ahead of the two. He ran from his car and tried to get hold of the Arman and his dad, but he also fell victim to the rough waters.

 

Ten year old Arman was going to celebrate his 11th birthday on July 4. His body was found the next day. The search for his dad and neighbor turned out to be much more challenging. As a result of the herculean efforts of the Milwaukee Fire Department and their Dive Rescue Team, as well as the efforts of the Milwaukee Police Department and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, the bodies of Arman’s dad and neighbor were recovered on the morning of Thursday, June 16.

 

Arman was the eldest child in his family of four children, one boy and three girls, the youngest being six weeks old. His mother, Asmantarra, lost her only son and her husband. The neighbor, Zakaria, is survived by his wife Hasina, two sons and one daughter. Their eldest child is eleven years old. Both families are from the Rohingya community, an ethnic group that has been persecuted in Burma/Myanmar. They fled the genocide taking place in their home country and were welcomed into the United States about seven years ago.

 

This GoFundMe is being set up to support both families. The funds will be held by the Islamic Society of Milwaukee and 100% of the funds will be distributed equally between both families to cover their losses and expenses. Both of the deceased husbands, Rashidullah and Zakaria, were the primary financial supporters of their families.

 

We pray to God to bless all three of the deceased, Arman, his father Rashidullah and his neighbor Zakaria, with a home in Paradise and to give comfort to their families, particularly their wives and children. We want to thank all those from the Milwaukee fire department, police department and all others who were involved in the attempted rescue and recovery efforts. God bless all of you for your dedication and service.

 

We thank everyone for their support.

 

Siti (cousin of Arman and niece of Rashidullah)

Bibi (niece of Zakaria)